The ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has been released just after meeting the bail conditions allowed him by the Court.
Emefiele, had arrived at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja in custody of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, April 12 and left for his home after the court proceedings were done with.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, the judge who ruled on his bail application had admitted him to bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties in like sum.
Shortly after the court granted him bail, hearing began with the EFCC calling its first prosecution witness.
Monday Osazuwa, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had been the witness at the hearing on how the former CBN Governor on different occasions, directed him to collect the sum of $3 million cash in tranches.
Led-in-evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, the witness described to the court how he served as a dispatch rider in Zenith Bank, after which he joined the apex bank as well as the many petty errands he ran for the former CBN governor.
Osazuwa had recounted that he usually communicated with the ex-Governor through WhatsApp and Emails.
“I performed as a senior supervisor, recording and filing with other official roles.” He had said.
Osazuwa testified that sometime in 2020, the first defendant [Emefiele] sent him on errand.
“When he called me, he directed that I should call a businessman who gave me $1 million dollars on his behalf. Some weeks later, the first defendant also called me that I should meet the man and he gave me $850,000, $750,000 and $400,000 cash in tranches.”
The witness further confirmed to the court that he knew Dumies Oil and Gas Limited while he was in Zenith Bank PlC. He added that that former CBN governor, who was also the MD of the company, frequently sent him to collect cheques from a certain Mr Monday.
Osazuwa also told the court that he always logged the money into the account of Dumies on the the ex-Governor’s order.
Upon being asked where the second defendant lived, he responded that Henry Isioma Omoile lived in the residence of the former CBN governor.
Osazuwa was cross-examined by the defendant’s counsel, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal and Justice Oshodi had turned down a request for adjournment made by the defence counsel before he testified.
In his ruling, he had said that the request for adjournment was unjustified.
The hearing had been shifted to April 29, for the continuation of trial and for trial of some applications requesting a closed session for some of the prosecution’s witnesses.
In summary, this report reveals a serious breach of trust and misuse of power by Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The allegations of him directing the collection of large sums of money in cash, (all of them totaling $3 million) raise significant concerns about corruption and financial corruption.
The witness testimony describing the systematic collection of cash and the involvement of Dumies Oil and Gas Limited further highlights the gravity of the situation. Emefiele’s purported actions not only breach ethical standards, it also betrays the public’s trust in the uprightness of financial institutions (which individuals trust with their monies) and government officials.
Sadly, only justice can help the average Nigerian citizen to restore their confidence in the many financial systems littered in the country.
